Road surface drainage test rig

Testing of roadway drainage units and installations, including gutter/pavement profiles and gutter inlets (grates and side-entry inlets), has been carried out at the Mawson Lakes Campus of the University of South Australia using full-size rigs, since the mid-1970's. Early work was aimed at simulating correct surface roughness for 'hot-mix' and 'flush-seal' pavements.

In 1989 work commenced on a new full-size Test Rig : it was commissioned in 1991, and is housed indoors. It was designed to reproduce, in the laboratory, flow and hydraulic geometry/roughness conditions, which are as close as possible to those experienced in real urban roadway situations. The rig was also designed to provide minimum distortion of the roadway surface under test conditions. Its development, under the guidance of Associate Professor John Argue, was the culmination of nearly two decades of interest and work in this field of hydraulic engineering.

The Urban Water Resources Group, based at the Mawson Lakes Campus of the University of South Australia, offers this specialised consulting service using the Road Surface Drainage Rig for hydraulic testing of full-size street drainage components, such as grates, deflectors, side-entry pits, chambers with troughs etc. Any required kerb-and-gutter shape can be provided. The Rig is the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

Benefits of full-size hydraulic testing
Features of the road surface drainage rig
Recent clients
Questionnaire
Contacts

Benefits of full-size hydraulic testing

Correct design of stormwater drainage systems involving gutter inlets, grates, etc., can only be carried out with flow capture data obtained from testing of units over the full range of slopes (longitudinal and transverse), spreads and flows likely to be encountered in practice
'Correct' surface roughness for the full range of conditions (i.e. slopes, spreads and flows) can be incorporated
Enables observations to be made that lead to modifications of designs with consequent improvements in performance
The effects of obstruction by 'real world' debris can be observed
The main benefit of full-size testing is performance data obtained under "controlled" laboratory conditions, which are as close as possible to those experienced in real urban roadway situations

Features of the road surface drainage rig are:

Size : 20 metres x 3.2 metres
Road longitudinal slopes 0.00% - 16.00% including 'sag' tests
Road pavement cross-fall slopes 0.00% - 5.00%
Water flow rates up to 350 L/s (originally 250 L/s)
Rig can be modified to reproduce surface roughnesses (carriageway, deflectors, gutters, etc.) equivalent to those of concrete, hot-mix or spray seal
Capable of accommodating any full-size inlet pit arrangement and kerb-and-channel profile
Channel invert level in the region of the inlet can be adjusted to suit various "depression" depths. * Pit water level can be set to provide any required 'free-board' condition

Staff of the Urban Water Resources Group will be happy to assist in devising a testing or product development programme to meet your requirements.

Clients for whom testing has recently been carried out include:

Northern Territory Dept. of Transport & Works
Institute of Municipal Engineering, Queensland (1991 & 1995)
Brisbane City Council
Patent Products Pty. Ltd., Brisbane
Max Q Sales Co., Brisbane
Department of Urban Services, A.C.T.
Department of Transport, South Australia
CSR Humes, Queensland
Wembly Cement Industries, Western Australia
Ecosol, South Australia

Questionnaire

To assist in developing a testing program and providing a quotation for this program, we require the following information :

Longitudinal slopes required, e.g. tests using longitudinal slopes 0.25%, 0.50%, 1.00%, 1.50%, 2.00%, 3.00%, 4.00%, 6.00%, 8.00%, 10.00%, 12.00%, 16.00%.
'Sag' tests : what configurations are required? e.g. single-grated chamber, twin-grated chambers, single-grated chamber with single (symmetrical) upstream troughs, etc. Are tests under 'orifice' conditions required? i.e, submerged inlet.
Road pavement cross-fall slopes, e.g. 2.0%, 3.0%, 1 in 30, 1 in 40, etc. (range 0% - 5%).
Kerb profile (e.g. barrier and/or mountable) - construction details required.
Carriageway surface roughnesses : gutter - concrete, pavement - 'hot mix', etc.
'Depression' of inlet lip below "through" gutter invert in mm. 7. Chamber water level expressed as mm below 'through' gutter invert, if required.
If inlet lip is 'depressed', what are the transition distances (upstream and downstream)? - construction details required.
Test configurations : 'with grate' refers to gully trap configuration incorporating a grate; '0-grate' refers to tests conducted with grate covered, and represents the 'no grate' condition - construction details required.
Inlet lintel length, particularly where different from chamber length, e.g. where upstream 'through' is used - construction details required.
Flow spread limit for tests, e.g. 2.5 m, 4.0 m, etc.
low test limits: - maximum flow of 250 L/s or 340 L/s - minimum percent capture, e.g. 70%, 50% etc.
Are flow width versus flow curves required?
Are debris (blockage) tests to be conducted? If so specify test details.
What form of output is required?, e.g. curves, tabulations, curve equations etc.
Are digital photographs and/or videos of tests required?
When is an order for your programme likely to be placed? (Orders must usually be accompanied by a 30% deposit.)
Do you require information on the 150% tax concession available to fully commercial enterprises in Australia?

Further information and answers to questions raised by the above may be directed to :

Associate Professor John Argue, on +61 8 302 3131 or

David Pezzaniti, on +61 8 302 3652 or fax +61 8 3023386